Coin-controlled actuating mechanism for vending-machines.



C. W. HITCHNER.

COIN CONTROLLED ACTUATING MECHANISM FOR VENDING MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED AUGJI. 19x5.

1 1 59,90. Patented Nov. 9, 1915.

2 SHEETSSHEET I.

WITNESSES INVENTOR COLUMBIA PLANOIJRAPH c0.. WASHINGTON. n. c.

C. W. HITCHNER.

COIN CONTROLLED ACTUATING MECHANISM FOR VEMDING MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED AUG.I7. 1915.

1,159,940. Patented Nov. 9, 1915.

2 SHEETSSHEET 2.

WITNESSES INVENTOR AllUHNtYb COLUMBIA PLAN c.

. although it is to CHESTER W. I'IIIGHNER, F PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

COIN-CONTROLLED ACTUATING MECHANISM FOR VENDING-MACHINES.

intense.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Fatented Nov. 9, 1915..

Driginal application filed January 21, 1915, Serial r10. 3, 196. Divided and this application filed August 17,

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Cnns'rnn WV. Hrronsea, a citizen of the United States, residing inthe city and county of Philadelphia, State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Coin-Controlled Actuating Mechanism for Vending-Machines, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to a new and useful coin controlled vending machines, which is a division of an application filed by me on January 21st, 1915, Serial No. 3496, and it consists of novel means for normally locking the actuating mechanism and for releasing the same at the proper time to permit of actuation thereof.

it further consists of other novel features of construction, all as will be hereinafter fully set forth.

For the purpose of illustrating my invention, I have shown in the accompanying drawings one form thereof which is at present preferred by me, since the same will give in practice satisfactory and reliable results,

be understood that the various instrumentalities of which my invention consists can be variously arranged and organized and that my invention is not limited to the precise arrangement and organization of these instrumentalities as herein shown and described.

Figure 1 is a vertical, sectional view on line 11 Fig. 2 of a coin controlled apparatus showing the actuating mechanism.

Fig. 2 is a horizontal sectional view thereof on line 22 Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view on line 3-3, Fig. 2. Fig. fl is a vertical sectional view of a portion of the mechanism shown in Fig. 1 with the parts in difierent positions therefrom.

Similar numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts in the figures.

Referring to the drawings designates a casing or frame of a machine which may be of any suitable form and construction, and which it will be understood suitably supports and carries the various parts hereinafter described, and it will be further understood that the operation, of the various parts, is so timed as to operate at the proper time and in proper sequence to accomplish the desired results.

It will of course be understood that suitable containers or supports for the articles,

actuating mechanism for Serial No. 45,903.

to be vended and suitable delivery mechanism therefor will be employed, these parts forming no part of the present invention and so are omitted, in the present drawings, for the sake of clearness, it being understood that these features are disclosed in my application above referred to and operate properly in conjunction with the coin controlled actuating mechanism.

At a suitable point in the casing 10, I provide an opening 11 which communicates with or receives the end of the coin chute, which, as-here shown, is provided with a substantially horizontally extending portion and a portion extending angularly thereof. The chute has a side wall 12 and a side wall 13 forming a coin-slot, the said wall 12 being inclined, as best seen in Fig. 2, and being adapted to hold a proper coin in an inclined position. The wall 18 is provided with an offset portion 15 which is situated angularly with respect to the inclined wall 12 for purposes to be hereinafter described. A portion of the bottom of the slot is open and at this point is pivotally mounted a closure 17 upon a wall 16 thereof, and as here shown, the closure consists of a plate with which is suitably connected a threaded rod 18 having a weight 19, or its equivalent adjustaloly mounted on said rod, which is adapted to balance the plate and hold the same in and return the same to its normal closed position, as seen in Fig. 1. it being understood that said plate 17 is adapted to support a coin of the proper weight when received in the chute and is adapted, when a heavier coin is inserted, to be depressed thereby, to discharge the said heavier coin from the coin-slot. As here shown, it is deposited into a suitable receptacle 14, positioned beneath the said plate 17. A portion of the bottom of the chute or slot at the offset 15thereof is open or cut away as at 20.

21 designates a magnet or other attractive means suitably positioned at the offset portion 15 of the chute and which magnet is adapted to attract and hold a bogus or improper coin when inserted in a substantially upright position. that is to say, it will move the same from the inclined position resting against the inclined wall 12 of the chute.

22 designates a plunger of suitable construction and movalolv mounted in the coinslot and which is provided with a push rod I readily appreciated from the above. 25.

23 slidingly extending through the wall of the casing 10 to a suitable point exterior thereof for engagement by the operator.

2% designates a lug or extension, here shown on one side of the plunger, which is adapted, when the plunger is actuated, to move in the offset portion 15 of the coin-slot. Carried upon the opposite side of the plunger, by an arm 25, is a cam member 26 which is adapted at the proper time to engage with and operate means for imparting movement to a delivering mechanism. A slot 27 is here shown as provided in the wall 12 to'permit movement of the arm therein. Suitable means is positioned adjacent the end of the coin-slot to receive or to be engaged by a proper coin in order to actuate the delivery mechanism and at a suitable point adjacent the end of the coin-slot is a guiding member 28 adapted to receive'and deliver the'coin to a receptacle 29 suitably positioned for this purpose.

The operation of the coin chute will b A proper coin being inserted in the opening 11 will fall into the chute and upon the movable bottom 17 and will rest against the inclined wall 1 2 of the chute, being thus held in an inclined position, that is, in the position seen in dotted lines in Fig. 7 and, as the weight 19 has been-adjusted to support the plate 17 with the weight of a proper coin thereon, the plate 17 will remain in its closed position and will hold the coin in the slot. The operator, by pushing inwardly upon the rod 23, will.actuate theplunger 22,

which will engage the coin, still resting against-the inclined side 12, and will move it 7 along the horizontally extending portion of the chute and will cause the coin to engage with the means at the endof the chute for releasing-the delivery. mechanism. At the proper time, the coin will fall therefrom and be directed intothe receptacle 29. Upon the releaseof the plunger 22 by the operator, a

spring 30, connected therewith and with a suitable stationary point, Wlll return the w parts to their normal position, ready for the next operation.- Should, however, a coin orarticle be deposited into the chute, which is heavier than a proper coin, upon reaching the movable plate 17', it will overcome the efi'ect of the weight 19 and will depress the said plate 17, so that said heavier coin or article will fall from the coin-slot and be.

deposited in the receptacle 14. Should a bogus or improper coin or article be inserted into the chute and which is of a material to beattracted by the magnet 21, the action of the same will be todraw the bogus coin from its inclined position against the inclined side 12 and will'hold the said bogus coin in a substantially upright position against the offset 'wall 15.--Wh en the operator, at this time,-

presses in the plunger 22, the latter will not operated.

. same forwardly until it reaches the opening 20 1n the bottom of the offset portion,

through which opening it falls into the receptacle let, so that the mechanism is not From'the above, it will be understood that I have provided a coin chute which is adapted to discard improper and bogus coins and which is adapted to properly receive and guide a proper coin to operate the delivering mechanism, and'l desire it understood that by the use of the terms improper coin, bogus coin or heavier coin, I desire to cover any improper article, coin, or disk, which may be used.

It will be understood that the movement of the delivery mechanism (not shown) is controlled by the coin actuating mechanism and the movement of said delivery mechanism at each operation must be suitable in order to deliver one article, or a predeter mined desired number of articles. To accomplish this result, I have provided. an actuating member '31, here shown as a ratchet'wheel, having suitable teeth thereon,

which is mounted on the shaft 32 suitably supported by the casing and which is provided with suitable cam teeth 33. Also mounted upon the shaft 32 adjacent the opposite end. thereof: is a gear 34 having suit able teeth thereon, and which isrprovided with cam-teeth 35, said gear being in mesh with a gear 36 mounted on a shaft 37, which is adapted, for suitable connection with the 'nected at asuitable stationary point it bein understood that the lower end of the lever 39 is in suitablepositio-n with relationto the cam member 26 of the plunger-22 in order that said lever 39' at the proper time will be V engaged by the said cam face 26, as will be hereinafter described.

4 -2 designates a locking member or latch slidingly mounted in the support43pcarried by the casing 10 and which is provided with a nose adapted; for engagement with the cam-teeth of the ratchet wheel 31. Pivotally connected with said latch is a rod 44, the free end of which is adapted to normally engage with and abut a stop 45 suitably p0: sitioned and supported for this'purposeQ 46 designates aspring, one-end; of which, is connected with the latch i2 and the other end of which is connected with a suitable stationary point, andwhich spring is adapted when the rod 44 is released, as will be hereinafter described, to quickly and positively remove the nose of the latch 42 from its engagement with one of the teeth 33 carried by the ratchet 31 to release the latter.

47 designates an arm carried by the latch 42 and having a cam face 48 adapted to be engaged at the proper time by one of the cam faces of the teeth 35 carried by the gear 34, it being understood that this engagement takes place after the spring 46 has removed the latch 42 from its engagement with a tooth 33. It will be understood that the normal position of the latch 42 is such that it is in engagement with one of the teeth 33 in order to prevent movement of the ratchet 31, which thus locks the same until released at the proper time. In order to accomplish this, I have provided an arm 49, one end of which is in contact or engagement with the rod 44, and said arm 49 being pivoted at 50 to a support 51, the opposite ends of the arm 49 being provided with means for engagement by the coin from the coin chute- As here shown, I have provided a forked member 52 for this purpose, suitably situated to receive a coin 53. The operation of the parts just described is as follows: When in the position seen in Fig. 1, the latch 42 is held in looking position by the engagement of the rod 44 with the stop 45 and the latch is thus holding the ratchet 31 against movement. By inserting a proper coin in the coinehute and upon the plunger being actuated, the coin will be delivered into the fork andwill rock the arm 49, which is in engagement with the rod 44, elevating the end thereof and removing it from engagement with the stop 45, immediately upon which the spring 46 acts to draw over the latch 42 to remove it from its engagement with the teeth 33 and at the same time it moves the arm '47 into a posi tion to have its face 48 engaged by the cam face of a tooth 35 at the proper time. In the meantime, the cam 26, which has moved inwardly, engages with the lower end of the lever 39, rocking the same on its pivot and moving it to the position seen in dotted lines in Fig. 3, and causing the pawl 38 to engage with the next succeeding tooth. When the plunger 2- and rod 23 are releasedby the operator, they are returned to normal position by the spring 30, and as the cam 26 is removed from engagement with the lever 39,

the spring 41 will actuate the lever 39 to return the same to its normal position (seen in full lines in Fig. 3) and thus moving the ratchet 31 the distance of one tooth. This rotates the shaft 32 a suitable amount and imparts movement to the gear 34, and thence to the gear 36 which will rotate with the shaft 37 and will move the delivery mecha nism (not shown) a suitable distance to remove an article or articles, it being noted that a chute 54 is provided for the delivery of the articles to a receptacle 55. When the latch 42 is moved over by the spring 46, the cam face 48 of the arm 47 is located in position to be engaged by the cam face of one of the teeth 35. It will be seen that the rotation of the gear caused by the rotation of the shaft 32 will cause the cam face of the tooth which is in engagement with the cam face 47 to overcome the tension of the spring 46 and will force back the arm 47 and the latch 42 to cause the latter to be engaged with the next succeeding tooth 33 and this return movement will permit the rod 44 to fall into position to again engage with the stop 45, so that the parts are again locked ready for the next operation.

From the above, it will be seen that I have provided a latch for normally locking the actuating mechanism against novement, with means for holding the latch in looking position, the spring serving as the means for removing the latch, when released, from locking position, the gear 34 and cam faces 35 thereon serving to return the latch to locking position, while the pawl and lever and the spring 41 serve to actuate the members a predetermined distance, the plunger 22 and coacting parts serving as mechanism for releasing the locking means and for operating the actuating mechanism to move the member.

It will now be apparent that I have devised a novel and useful coin controlled actuating mechanism for vending machines, which embodies the features of advantage enumerated as desirable in the statement of the invention and the above description, and while I have, in the present instance, shown and described a preferred embodiment thereof which will give in practice satisfactory and reliable results, it is to be understood that the same is susceptible of modification in various particulars without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention or sacrificing any of its advantages.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters latent, is

1. in an actuating mechanism for vend ing machines, comprising in combination, an actuating member, a latch for normally locking said member against movement, means for holding said latch in looking position, means for removing the latch from looking position when released, means for returning said latch to locking position, means for actuating said member a predetermined distance, and mechanism for releasing the holding means and for operating the actuating means to move said memher.

2. In an actuating mechanism for vending machines, comprising incombination, an actuating member, a latch for normally locking said member against movement, means for holding said latch in looking position, means for removing the latch from locking position when released, means for actuating said member predetermined distance, means operated by said actuating means for returning said latch to locking position, and coin-controlled mechanism for releasing the holding means and for operating the actuating means to move said member.

3. In an actuating mechanism for vending machines, comprising in combination, an actuating member having teeth thereon, a latch adapted to engage with said teeth -for locking the member against movement, means for holding latch in looking position, a spring for removing the latch from locking position whenreleased, a pawl in engagement with said actuating member, means for returning said latch to locking position, and coin-controlled mechanism for releasing the holding means and for operat-' ing the pawl to move the member a predetermined distance.

i In an actuating mechanism for vending machines, comprising in combination,

an actuating incmberhaving teeth thereon,

a latch adapted to normallyengage w'itn said teeth for locking said member against movement, a pivctally mounted rod carried by said latch and adapted to normally abut a stop for holding said latch in locking position, a spring for removing said latch from engagement with'said teeth when said rod is released, means for returning said latch to locking position, a pawl in engagement with said actuating member, and coincontrolled mechanism adapted to release said rod and-for actuating said pawl tomove the member a predetermined distance.

5. In an actuating mechanism for vending machines, comprising in combination,

an actuating member, a latch normally looking said member against movement, means for holding said latch in locking position,

means for removing the latch from looking positionwhen released, means for actuating said member a predetermined distance, mechanism for releasing the holding means andfor operating the actuating mechanism to move said member, and a'second member actuated by the first member to engage the latch and return it to locking position and to cause the holding means to return to locking position. r

6. In an actuating mechanism for vend- Copies of this patent may be obtained for fing machines, comprising in combination,

an actuating member, a latch for normally locking said member against movement,

means forholding said latch in locking po-- 'SlillOIl, means for removing the latch rom looking position when'released, means for returning said latch to locking position,

means foiractuating said member a predetermined distance, a rod, adapted through the medium of a coin, to release the-holding means, and acan carried by the rod for operating the actuating mechanism to move the member. V a

7. ln'an actuating mechanism for vending machines, comprising in combination, an actuating member having teeth thereon,

actuated by said first member, and meanson said second member lor engagement with the latch fol-returning it to locking position. 7 '7 i 8. In an actuating mechanism for vending machines, comprising in combination, a rotatable member having teeth thereon, a

gear oppositely situated actuated by movement of the irtatable member and having cam-teeth thereon, a latch movable between said member and gear and having ainose adapted to normally engage the teeth of the rotatable member for looking it against movement and'having an arm normally out of the path'ot said gear cam-teeth, means for holding the latch in looking position, means for removing the latch whenreleased and locating thesaid arm in the path of the cam-teeth of the gear, means for actuating said rotatable member a predetermined distance, and mechanism for releasing the hold ing means and for operating the actuating means tomove said rotatable member and the gearto cause the cam-teeth thereof to" engage the arm of the latch to returnit to locking position. v

a lVit'nes ses: q I

, JOHN A. Wineriesl mit, C. D; MoVAY.

CHESTER w. iiironiinn.

five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents. Washington, D. 0., 

